Senators seek probes, flood control overhaul after August storms

SEVERAL SENATORS on Tuesday filed resolutions seeking investigations into widespread flooding caused by successive typhoons and southwest monsoon rains in August, with lawmakers calling for a review of flood control projects and disaster resilience measures.

“There is a need to assess the resilience of public infrastructure amid increasingly severe typhoons and monsoons, while ensuring that large-scale developments consider their potential impact on flooding and natural resources,” Senator Vicente C. Sotto III said in a statement.

Mr. Sotto, through Senate Resolution No. 631, sought an inquiry into the impact of the rains, which disrupted businesses, suspended classes and stranded commuters. He also raised concerns about unfinished flood control projects and damaged infrastructure.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has estimated infrastructure damage from recent typhoons and southwest monsoon at P5.1 billion, he noted.

Senator Francis Pancratius N. Pangilinan, in Senate Resolution No. 592, called for an overhaul of the country’s flood control system, including a science-based national policy and a public database tracking flood control spending.

“Projects should undergo independent audits measuring not merely whether they were built according to specifications, but whether they actually reduced flooding without worsening it elsewhere,” he said in a statement.

The senator said flood control projects should be evaluated based on their effectiveness in reducing flood risks rather than solely on compliance with construction standards.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Joseph Victor G. Ejercito said lawmakers would seek updated estimates of damage to public infrastructure to guide funding decisions.

“We would like to ask for agency estimates of the infrastructure damage caused by these monsoon rains over the past months so that we can allocate funds accordingly,” he told a news briefing. — KPBG